Outreach

Explorers Educator Programme

DCU Water Institute PI Thomas McCloughlin works with the national Marine Institute, Oranmore in the Explorers’ Programme. He is currently working with the MI on assessing “Marine Literacy” and he is a member of the Marine Biological Association and the Royal Society of Biology. He has wide experience in developing educational programmes.

The Explorers Education Programme provides fun lesson plans, resources and activities for primary school teachers to inspire their student’s interest and knowledge in our ocean, marine environment, species and seashores.

The Explorers Education Programme is supported by the Marine Institute, and is funded under the Marine Research Programme by the Irish Government.

Photo courtesy of Marine Institute Website

Explorers Mission Statement

The Explorers Education Programme™ aims to build on Ireland’s marine and maritime heritage by increasing awareness of the value, opportunities and social benefits of our ocean wealth and identity.

Explorers Goals

EDUCATE primary school children, teachers and educators in Ireland, enabling them to understand the oceans influence on us and our influence on the ocean, through outreach and centre activities in Ireland.

COORDINATE professional development training and workshops for teachers and trainee teachers, to develop their marine literacy skills and promote the use of marine content in line with the national curriculum.

DEVELOP education materials and resources based on the Irish primary school curriculum to support teachers teaching marine in primary schools.

PROMOTE ocean literacy and marine outreach activities with local communities, educators and influencers through events and media, so as to create dialogue and engagement about our ocean.

For further information and to see how you or your school could get involved please click here.

Underwater Sea Photography

There is an underwater photography exhibition in the DCU library until 15th April. The exhibition is hosted by DCU Library in association with the DCU Sub Aqua Club, DCU’s scuba diving club.

The exhibition featured 112 photographs by scuba divers and snorkelers based in Ireland, and all members of the “CFT Underwater Photography Group” on Facebook. Photographs are mainly of subjects in Irish waters, but also of subjects in other waters. CFT is An Comhairle Fó Thuinn or The Irish Underwater Council, the governing body for scuba diving clubs in Ireland.

This exhibition is a collection of photographs specifically chosen by the photographers themselves for public exhibition. It is currently touring the island of Ireland. It is the largest photographic group in Ireland, currently with 906 members. It is the 5th National Exhibition of Underwater Photography and was was launched in March 2016. There is a catalog available if you have a smart phone capable of following a QR Code.

The group says of itself…
“The purpose of this group is to show and tell the type of pictures that divers are taking throughout the world. We encourage people of all levels to post their marine pictures, good or bad and to generate a conversation from which we all learn. If you want a picture to be strongly critiqued that just ask for it when posting. Otherwise, if you post a picture where the group can see ways for improvement, we will continue to give advice in a constructive manner. Those posting pictures are encouraged to tell us what type of camera set up and settings were used. Also please let us know how you took the shot if it’s something we can all learn from.”

Diaphanous Beneath

What lies beneath? Below the waters transparent surface there is growth. Drawing on research from DCU Water Institute’s Marine and Environmental Sensing Technology Hub (MESTECH) Diaphanous Beneath is a collection of garments which explores and interprets the growth, layering and patterns of the diatom and crab surface. Materials are manipulated, layered and embellished to represent the expansion of organic matter and the clear and translucent quality of the sea.